BLACK MOUNT BUGLE

MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING CHAIRMAN

The good news is that we still have a Community Council, though the number of nominations didn't trigger an election. Our AGM is
currently scheduled for 7.30pm on November 15th at Elsrickle Hall. As always, everyone is welcome.

I recently got involved in several sceptical events south of the border concerning the 'Big Society' and 'Localism', but I hope that here in Black Mount we can make a more meaningful impact on our own community. To that end we'd encourage everyone to get in touch if you have a bee in your bonnet, a good idea for local investments that would make a big difference, or just want to make your views known about the place we live in.

As well as being reactive to planning applications and Council consultations, we'd like to think that we can also take your lead in proposing what you want to see happen, and sharing what you think about what's being done in your name.

Meanwhile, the cold weather looms, and as a previous urban dweller I find myself surprisingly heartened by a dry stable block stocked with animal bedding and fodder. We hope all our neighbours in the Black Mount community stay warm and safe over the coming months.

Good luck.

Sam Cassels - Acting Chairman

BMCC MEETINGS
Meetings are usually held on the first Monday of each month (except Tues Dec 6th and Public Holidays). A warm welcome is extended to everyone.

Dates and venues are posted outside Dolphinton, Elsrickle and Newbigging Village Halls

SUNDAY WORSHIP

Church of Scotland, Dolphinton
Morning Service – Sundays 9.30am

St Isadore's Roman Catholic Church, Biggar
Holy Mass Sundays 12 noon
Weekdays (Mon, Tues-Thurs, Fri) 9.30 am

St Mungo's Scottish Episcopal Church, West Linton
Sung Communion Sundays 10.00 am
Said Communion Wednesdays 10.30 am

DOLPHINTON WRI

The Annual Flower Show on Saturday20th August was a great success with good entries in all classes.
In September, the members attended a talk given at Moat Park Museum, Biggar by Tam Ward.
October 26th was a Whist Drive.

In November there will be a craft demonstration given by Phyllis Tweedie and Margaret Leiper.
The Children’s Christmas Party will be held on December 17th.

January 18th 2012 will be Andrew Hay talking about Bee Keeping and on January 28th there will be the Bowling Tournament.

Jean Campbell

COUNCILLOR HAMISH STEWART

At the time of writing we are just entering the second week of Biggar Little Festival. As always I am amazed at the depth of talent this area affords. Loraine and I have supported as many events as we have been able to for the last week or so and during that time have bumped in to many Blackmount residents, not only as audience members but also as performers, exhibitioners and volunteers. The Festival is truly an event for the whole Clydesdale East community and I believe is an example for the rest of the country in Community Engagement.

In my role as Acting Chair of the South Lanarkshire Leisure and Cultural Trust I was able to persuade the General Manager of the Trust to come to Biggar and see for himself some of what was on offer at the Biggar Day Out. He met with and talked to several people on the day and has left, intending to look in to how the Trust can get more involved in the Festival in future years.

You may have read in the newspapers about the Boundary Commission’s proposed changes to the constituency boundaries for the UK Parliament. Under the proposals our constituency, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale disappears with Clydesdale joining Larkhall and Strathaven in a new constituency. This will have absolutely no effect on the Council ward boundaries which will remain the same as now for next year’s election.

The Boundary Commission will start to look at ward boundaries in 2013 with a view to new boundaries being in place for the 2017 council elections. I anticipate that Clydesdale East will grow even more in size because although the ward covers a huge area, it does not meet the current criteria for the number of people in a ward. However, that is all in the future.

Talking of next year’s Council elections, whatever happens there will be at least one new councillor in the ward as Beith Forrest has decided to retire after 24 years as a Councillor, mainly in the old Duneaton ward and laterally in Clydesdale East. His knowledge and wisdom will be sadly missed. I have had quite a few people asking my own intentions so I can now tell you that I do intend to stand for re-election next May. I am absolutely sure that it will not be the easiest time to be a Councillor because of cutbacks but it will be up to all those who are elected to represent this area that rural interests are not forgotten.

The meetings are now commencing to look at next year’s budgets and those areas in which cuts will have to be made. I will try to keep you informed as things progress of the issues that might most affect Blackmount. At the moment it does appear that the road repair and upgrading programme is safe, as is the school modernisation programme – this is now firmly back on track after being under threat a few months ago. The additional million pounds voted for the road gritting programme is also safe and, if the forecasts are to be believed, will be needed.

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail at Hamish.stewart@southlanarkshire.gov.uk or by phone on 07748 114 582 or by letter to the Council offices. My surgeries continue on the first Monday of each month at Newbigging, Dolphinton and Elsrickle.

Hamish Stewart

BLACK MOUNT FUEL UPDATE

Since bringing up the subject of buying heating oil in bulk in the last 'Bugle' there have been some developments.

Some who expressed an interest met up with Colin McGregor from Rix Oil to find out how it might work from the oil companies side. Being more spread out geographically does not seem to be a problem. It was interesting to find out that Carnwath, Broughton and Kirkfieldbank all run a bulk buying system successfully.

How it works: Members put in their order to the organiser at a set time. Organiser phones round 3 different oil companies and gets a quote for that amount. Cheapest price gets the order and the details of the individual amounts are emailed to the oil company. Each person is billed individually. It is possible that the payment must be made up front although if already a customer, not necessarily so.
500 litres is the minimum order and people ordering smaller amounts will get the greatest benefit - although all will benefit.

Plan A was to order in November to try it out, however we were unable to generate a big enough order as most people had already ordered individually in preparation for the winter.

Plan B is to try again in January or February based on demand.
It would be great if more joined in so please get in touch if you want to save money!

Margaret Lancaster.
01899810296 email lancaster974@btinternet.com

BLACKMOUNT SOCIAL GROUP

What a successful Bonfire Night! There must have been at least 100 spectators of all ages watching and hearing the spectacular display. Weather was a bit misty, but with little wind it was ideal. The soup, hotdogs, juice and chocolate bars did a roaring trade, and about £80 profit, including kind donations of “keep the change” variety, was realised to go towards next year’s fireworks.
Joan is worried that one “small child” may be in trouble because they did not come back for their change…..phone 01968 682256 if you are the short-changed parent.

Many thanks go to:
“Bomber Brian” and his team, “Light up Lance” and his generators, “Kindling Kerr” and his builders, and the “Social Group Soup
Kitchen”.

Also very enjoyable, but less well attended, was Sponsored walk on 4th September which raised over £200 for our funds. Weather was wonderful for the walk from Ferniehaugh , round Mendick Hill, and back to Ingraston., where we had very welcome tea, sandwiches and cakes. Thanks to all landowners whose tracks we used, to Jane at Ingraston for the ideal picnic site, and to all those, especially the children, who joined us.

Next event will be the Senior Citizens’ Christmas Dinner which will be served on Friday 2nd Dec in Elsrickle Hall. If you or your partner has reached your 60th birthday, please let us know so that you too can have an invitation - 01968 682256.

Another thank you is due to the kind neighbours who kept the flowers at the Halls watered during the summer. Bulbs have now been planted to replace them, so we can look forward to Spring.

Ann Hutchison

ELSRICKLE WRI

The first meeting of the session on the 14th September, was opened by new president Alice Barrie. This was a ‘hands on’ meeting led by Margaret Leiper and Agnes Steele making and decorating coat hangers.

On Wednesday 12th October, Annette Young gave a very entertaining talk on her years as a midwife from the 1970’s until the present day. She focussed on the differences experienced by women 30 years ago compared with the advanced technology of today. Many of the ladies present could relate to her tales and perhaps feel a little envious of the modern Mum-to-be. Her great sense of humour and obvious empathy with her charges have contributed towards a satisfying and successful career.

Meetings coming up:
9th November: Thornton Hall Farmhouse Ice Cream – Mrs M Buchanan
14th December: Hands on Christmas decorations – Lilian Slater
11th January: Keep Fit - Mrs K. Sandilands
8th February: Floral Art - Mrs C. Howat
Bowling Tournament: 26th November
Christmas Lunch: 8th January 2012

At the Biggar Show on July 23rd, Elsrickle Rural were the winners of the Community team effort. The theme was ‘Tutti Frutti’. Congratulations to the four team members. Prize-winners were also very well represented in the baking and craft sections.

The annual Flower Show will be held in the village hall on Saturday August 27th.

Pam Hart

COUNCILLOR REV BEV GAULD

SLC Winter Maintenance Programme:
At the most recent meeting of South Lanarkshire Council the councillors were ‘treated’ to an awareness session on the Winter Maintenance Programme for the forthcoming cold months. It was reported that the road salt stocks are at the highest level ever held by the council, at something in the region of some 39,000 tonnes. This compares with a total that was less than a quarter of that amount five years ago. However the council is committed to keeping the Motorways and Trunk roads open and gritted as the top priority. Top priority is also being given to all emergency access needs, wherever they might occur. The number of SLC salt bins has now been increased to a total of 1,200 bins across the council area. We are hoping for a much milder winter this year.

The Black Mount Anderson Communion Silver:
As winter approaches I am reminded of the old stories of the ‘Anderson Communion Silver’. So named after the local parish minister who, many generations back, trekked around the homes of the parishes in our area on his little pony, carrying the valuable communion silver that bears his name, and dispensing communion. In those days there was no motor transport, no electricity, no street lights. There were many mosses, waters, slaps and styles between the churches and homes he visited.

Long years after Rev Anderson had passed away, the communion silver, now known as one of the ‘Antiquities of Scotland’ came to be held in the little church at Dunsyre. Around 25 years ago the minister at that time, Rev Ian Sandilands and the congregation of Black Mount arranged for all that silver to be sold to the National Museum in Edinburgh and the funds from the sale to be released in order that the former school at Dolphinton could be purchased for the benefit of the church and community. The ownership and title to the school property were held by the members of the Mackenzie family, and not, as some might suppose, by the local authority.

I was serving as Interim Moderator to Black Mount at that time as Mr Sandilands was off sick for 6 months following major surgery. The negotiations involving the transfer of the title to the school between the representatives of the Church and the members of the Mackenzie family were handled smoothly to a successful conclusion, very largely thanks to the grace and favour shown towards the local community by the family. That Communion Silver made the transaction and purchase of the school building possible, something I’m sure Rev Anderson would never have foreseen.

Councillor Rev Bev Gauld

WALSTON PRIMARY SCHOOL CONCERT

Walston Primary School has invited a selection of local performers to entertain them at an informal concert to be held in the Municipal Hall, Biggar on Saturday 19 November at 7.00pm. The children would be delighted if parents, friends and local residents would come along and support this event. Although Walston children will not be performing they will be very involved in the organisation - selling tickets, designing and printing programmes, welcoming guests and enjoying performers.
Tickets are available from the school or at the door on the night.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

WALSTON PRE-5 GROUP

Walston Pre 5 Group offers the opportunity for children from the Black Mount Community to play together on a weekly basis before attending school.

The Pre 5 Group helps the children develop their social and learning skills through free play and creative art work, such as: dressing up, painting, play dough, reading, singing and musical games, as well as playing outside with balls and games, all in a safe environment.

We meet at Walston Primary School on a Wednesday morning, for children from 2½ years up to school age, and children do not need to be toilet trained to attend.

Each session runs from 9.15am until 11.30am. We would welcome children of this age to come and join our group and if you would like to register them, please telephone Heather Ferguson (Playgroup Leader), Hannah Cairns or Carrie Allison at the numbers below or call in on a Wednesday morning.

If you’d like to contact the playgroup, please call:

Heather Ferguson Tel: 07900128748
Carrie Allison Tel: 07725170123
Hannah Cairns Tel: 07980681978

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
November – February 2012

Nov 19th
Walston Pre School Concert
Biggar
7pm

Nov 26th
EWRI Bowling Tournament
Elsrickle Hall

Dec 2nd
BMCC Christmas Dinner
Elsrickle Hall

Dec 6th TUES
BMCC Meeting
See noticeboards
7.30pm

Dec 14th
Elsrickle WRI
Christmas Decorations
Elsrickle Hall
7.30pm

Dec 17th
Dolphinton WRI
Children’s Party
Dolphihinton Hall

Jan 8th
EWRI Christmas Lunch

Jan 9th
BMCC Meeting
See noticeboards
7.30pm

Jan11th
EWRI Keep Fit
Elsrickle Hall
7.30pm

Jan 18th
Dolphinton WRI
Beekeeping A Hay
Dolphinton Hall

Jan 28th
DWRI Bowling Tournament
Dolphinton Hall

Last Date for Contributions to the next Bugle is 3rd February.
Please send your articles, dates, reports, news and advertisements to:
Norma Love : Tel: 01899 810285 email bugle@blackmount.org

The Bugle is published by the Black Mount Community Council, but views expressed therein are not necessarily those of the committee. The Community Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors printed in the Bugle.